Prince Kael sat inside, his lips curved in a lazy yet devastatingly handsome smile. His eyes gleamed with mischief and indulgence—as though he had been expecting her all along.
Zora's amusement deepened. "Alright."
She stepped into his horse carriage without hesitation.
Alder, standing beside the horse carriage, nearly dropped his jaw.
When had these two become so… familiar?
When did the Young Lord start accepting people so easily?
And when did the divine doctor girl stop avoiding him?
Inside the horse carriage, Prince Kael studied her with open curiosity.
"It seems the days at the General's Estate were… less than pleasant?"
Zora shrugged lightly. "The world feels sorry for the pitiful disabled prince," she said slowly, her tone laced with irony. "But perhaps your life isn't any happier than mine."
That made Prince Kael laugh.
A bright, beautiful laugh—smooth like aged wine yet sharp enough to stir the heart.
"So my lady and I are the same kind of people," he said, eyes glinting playfully.
"If you were less shameless," she countered without blinking, "perhaps we'd be even more similar."
Her voice was light, but her eyes held warmth—subtle yet unmistakable. She no longer treated him like a threat. After multiple encounters, she had concluded that although he wore the face of a scoundrel, his nature was far less dangerous than she initially feared.
When he wanted, he could be considerate.
As if proving her thought correct, Prince Kael's expression shifted. He leaned slightly closer, voice dropping into something quietly serious.
"Today… arriving in the palace with your true face will stir quite a storm," he said. "Be cautious. Do not provoke the emperor—he is not someone who tolerates surprises."
His concern was genuine.
And that surprised her.
Zora blinked, her smile softening for a brief moment.
It seemed this man, beneath all his teasing and shamelessness, actually cared whether she survived the night.
But she also understood the danger.
Her sudden transformation—from "blind waste" to unmatched beauty—would seem suspicious to those in power. If the emperor took offense, the consequences could be severe.
Still, her expression remained calm, elegant, unshaken.
"Thank you for the warning," she replied softly. "But since I decided to reveal myself… I am already prepared for whatever comes."
Prince Kael's eyes shimmered, as though he saw something intriguing—and irresistible—in her unwavering confidence.
"Good," he murmured. "This is the woman I recognized."
The horse carriage moved forward, resplendent and unstoppable, carrying the two most dangerous—and most unpredictable—people in the capital toward the palace.
Inside the horse carriage, the air grew strangely still.
Zora's ink-dark eyes settled on Prince Kael, trying—yet failing—to see through the fog that seemed to surround him. No matter how she examined him, she could not read the true depth behind his relaxed smile.
For a long moment, they sat in silence, the sway of the horse carriage their only movement. Their gazes met and tangled, sharp intelligence against unfathomable mystery, each searching the other for something neither was willing to say aloud.
Then, without warning, Prince Kael leaned forward.
Too close.
Far too close.
Zora's breath caught an instant too late—her lips brushed the side of his cheek before she jerked away, hand tightening around the seat.
A faint heat rose to her face—not from embarrassment, but sheer irritation.
"You—!" she snapped.
Before she could unleash her full fury, Prince Kael sighed dramatically, one hand resting over his heart as if nursing a delicate wound.
"My lady," he said, voice dripping with exaggerated affection, "you stared at me so tenderly… I simply couldn't restrain myself."
The atmosphere froze.
For a heartbeat, neither spoke. Even the horse carriage's creaking seemed to quiet.
The corners of Prince Kael's mouth curved upward in a helpless, wicked smile, but in the depths of his eyes there was a flicker of sincerity—something warm, something real.
Zora refused to acknowledge it.
"Shameless," she muttered, turning her head away before he could see the subtle twitch of her lips.
Outside, Alder, who walked alongside the horse carriage, heard only the lady's cold shout of "shameless!" and stumbled in confusion.
What in the world did Young Lord do this time?
He rubbed his temples anxiously.
No, no… the Young Lord is injured. He wouldn't dare. I must be imagining things!
The horse carriage finally approached the palace's Royal Garden.
The moment Zora stepped out, she was greeted by a sea of color and fragrance. The palace grounds were breathtaking—vines draped across carved archways, blossoms blooming like flames under the moonlight, lanterns floating gently among the branches.
Yet none of this beauty compared to the young aristocratic ladies gathered in clusters, each adorned in their finest gauze, silks, and jewels. Their careful hairstyles, shimmering ornaments, and rosy smiles made the place feel like a field of blooming flowers—all waiting to be plucked by one man.
Today was the day the ministers' daughters competed for the position of Crown Princess.
And every set of eyes betrayed ambition.
"The Emperor is arriving!"
"The Queen is arriving!"
"The Crown Prince is arriving!"
The eunuch's sharp voice tore across the garden, instantly silencing all laughter and chatter. Everyone rose and bowed respectfully.
A golden figure walked at the center, radiating authority with every step.
Emperor Alexander, dressed in a magnificent dragon robe, still carried the vigor of his youth. His handsome features were stern, his presence a heavy pressure upon the garden.
Beside him, the empress wore a red gown, her noble features both elegant and imposing.
Following them was the Crown Prince, Prince Philip—a picture of tall, refined masculinity in a pale yellow robe. Tonight, he was so handsome in the attire that his gentle smile made half the girls in the garden clutch their hearts.
"Greetings to the Emperor, the Empress, and the Crown Prince!"
The Emperor raised a hand. "Rise. Tonight is a family banquet—be at ease and enjoy yourselves."
The crowd responded with grateful smiles.
Then the empress stepped forward, her voice graceful yet carrying clear authority.
"I believe everyone already understands today's purpose. The Crown Prince is of age. It is time for him to choose a rightful consort."
Gasps whispered through the garden.
Several young women blushed scarlet.
Others glanced shyly at Prince Philip, hearts pounding with hope.
The dream of becoming Crown Princess was a dream of rising to heaven.
While joy filled the eyes of the ministers, General Helius stood stiff and expressionless, as if carved from stone. He had already lost standing with the Crown Prince twice—once with Zora, and once with Luna. This banquet had nothing left to do with him.
Yet as the court looked around, someone finally noticed an absence.
"The selection has begun… but why hasn't Zora arrived yet?"
Whispers rippled.
Curiosity stirred.
Some wondered if the abandoned former fiancée would even dare show her face.
They had no idea that the one they awaited was already stepping into the palace—beautiful beyond recognition, escorted by another prince none dared provoke.